From Carson Wentz to Dak Prescott, rookie quarterbacks have shined through the first three weeks of the regular season. A total of four rookies have started games in 2016, and their numbers have been impressive. Via Gil Brandt:
4 rookie QBs have made 8 starts this season. Their stats:
Record: 6-2
TD: 9 (6 pass, 3 rush)
INT: 0
Yards: 1,883
Comp%: 65%
QB Rating: 95.0
Quite notably, number one overall pick Jared Goff is not one of those QBs. The Cal product is currently sitting behind the Rams‘ starter, Case Keenum. Keenum has bounced back nicely since a terrible Week 1 outing, with Los Angeles winning their last two games. But, Goff is the future, and many pundits believe he should be under center now to get important reps.
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher sees it differently. He's aware of the success that both Wentz and Prescott are having, but he won't let it accelerate his timeline for Goff.
From ESPN's Alden Gonzalez:
Jeff Fisher was asked if the success of rookie quarterbacks has impacted the way the Rams are developing Jared Goff. “No,” he said. “I spoke on that. I'm happy for young quarterbacks when they have success, but we have our own sense of timing here with him. The quarterbacks are having success because of injuries. As I mentioned last week, had we not had the injuries that we did in the league, probably all four of those quarterbacks either would be inactive or backups.”
Goff had mixed results in the preseason, completing 22-of-49 passes for 232 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. At times, his reads didn't develop quickly, and the pocket swallowed him up.
That differs from Prescott, who dominated during the Cowboys' preseason schedule. Wentz was out with an injured rib after the first game.
There's still plenty of time for Goff to flip the script; he's only 21 years old, and his career is only three games old. But, at the moment, his lack of progress compared to other rookie QBs is certainly noteworthy, and potentially worrisome for Rams management.
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